Earlier this year, we had one of our favorite meals ever at The Alley, a pizzeria and gelato concept from The Betsy Hotel. So when the invite came to check out The Betsy’s other restaurant — LT Steak & Seafood — we didn’t hesitate to RSVP. That swift response was warranted: The steak and seafood at LT is not to be missed.

Each year when August 1 comes around, we know Chef Peter Vauthy is going to go all out for Miami Spice. At Red, the Steakhouse, his menu is one of the few that changes regularly, giving customers a reason to come back again and again during the two-month affair. Having tried Miami Spice here last year, we knew we were in for a treat during our latest Spice preview. And indeed we were.

When we visited Barceloneta for a media dine a few weeks back, we weren’t expecting much. The Sunset Harbour restaurant, which specializes in Spanish Mediterranean cuisine, has been a staple of the area since 2011, but we just never had any urge to stop by; our “just-okay” experience at their now-shuttered South Miami location probably had something to do with it.

But life is all about second chances, right? Well, we’re glad we went back. Little did we know that we would enjoy one of our favorite meals of 2016 here — and one that had us immediately asking, “Did we just become best friends?”